Quantcast
Newspaper cover

Flip through
today’s papers
Newspaper cover

Flip through
today’s papers
Entertainment

Behind the bars at ‘Orange Is the New Black’ prison on Staten Island

By Posted on
  • All of the scenes involving Piper's early release from Litchfield Max were shot at Arthur Kill. The prison's trademark red door and duel rows of fencing, topped off with barbed wire, can be seen behind her as she greets her brother, Cal (Michael Chernus). The only prop needed: a phony Litchfield sign.
    Photo Credit: Composite: Meghan Giannotta, left, and Netflix
  • Piper and the other inmates are discharged through Arthur Kill's actual entryway, that's now filled with a mixture of papers left behind from 2011 and set props. You can also spot the entrance in
    Photo Credit: Meghan Giannotta
  • The dormitories (cell blocks C, D and Florida, where most of the season's drama takes place) were constructed on a set at Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens. But Special Housing Unit scenes, like those involving Gloria Mendoza (Selenis Leyva, pictured) were filmed within Arthur Kill's original SHU.
    Photo Credit: Meghan Giannotta
  • Elements from the SHU were recreated on the set in Queens for maximum security cellblock authenticity, like the sliding door used for meal trays, book deliveries and un-cuffing inmates. The doors to Arthur Kill's SHU rooms have been repainted since
    Photo Credit: Meghan Giannotta
  • Maria Ruiz, played by Jessica Pimentel, spends plenty of time trying to find her footing in season six. She attends church services and joins a religious group that meets regularly after she's convinced an attack that ended with her face in a toilet was a baptism.
    Photo Credit: Meghan Giannotta
  • The weekly religious meetings were filmed at Arthur Kill's actual Catholic Chapel. Crosses and religious paraphernalia were left behind from the inmates, while the seating was added in as set prop.
    Photo Credit: Meghan Giannotta
  • All is quiet at Arthur Kill without the chatter of Badison Murphy (Amanda Fuller) in everyone's ears. The field, which was used by former inmates, was monitored by several overhead cameras lining the prison's perimeter. A watch tower nearby served as an hourslong home base for the guard on duty.
    Photo Credit: Meghan Giannotta
  • Let's just call Litchfield's ladies a tad bit lucky for scoring rights to the kickball game. The maximum security outdoor rec space at Arthur Kill is similar to that of
    Photo Credit: Meghan Giannotta
  • The inmates also left their mark in the schoolrooms, dormitories and other spaces around the prison that haven't yet been retouched by film crews. A schoolroom chalkboard is still covered with doodles celebrating the Wu-Tang Clan and the
    Photo Credit: Meghan Giannotta
  • An alarm security system maps out the property. Building 47, the Special Housing Unit, Zone 1, the parking lot and entry, and field behind dorms H through E were used by the
    Photo Credit: Meghan Giannotta
  • Though not used for
    Photo Credit: Meghan Giannotta
  • “The animals, the animals, trapped, trapped, trapped ’till the cage is full.”

    The “OITNB” cells closely resemble Arthur Kill’s 400 units, with just a metal bed frame, toilet and small mirror inside a space that’s probably only slightly larger than your apartment bathroom.

    ” data-id=”120378223″ data-link=”https://amnewyork.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/image-34.jpg” class=”wp-image-1.20378223″/>

    Photo Credit: Meghan Giannotta

Warning: “OITNB” season 6 spoilers ahead.

Turns out, Litchfield is right here in New York City.

For its sixth season, Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black” transformed Staten Island’s former Arthur Kill Correctional Facility into Litchfield’s maximum-security prison. Arthur Kill, a minimum-security men’s prison that shuttered in 2011, is now owned by Broadway Stages, and has been used as the backdrop for several other productions, including “Ocean’s 8” and “Blindspot.”

Here’s a look behind the scenes at the set of “OITNB,” now on Netflix.

About the Author

More in Entertainment

More from around NYC